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And here's why I'm running (which you'll see again if you click above)
A little more than nine years ago I walked into a friend’s living room and met the amazing woman that became my wife. Not long after that, she shared her family with me.
Her father, Ken, had sparkling eyes, a smile that could light up a room, a quick sense of humor and a huge heart. He had been diagnosed with Parkinson’s a few years I met him. Throughout his life he was an athlete. He played football into his 20s, coached baseball and softball, refed in community basketball leagues, played golf. Like the rest of the family, he never met a sport he didn’t excel at. I never got to know that part of him.
As his disease progressed his physical abilities deteriorated and, as is all too common in older Parkinson's patients, the dementia started. He spent the last four years of his life bed ridden in a nursing home. Through it all he complained not once and never lost his positive attitude. Even in his severe dementia, he charmed the entire nursing home staff. Parkinson’s didn’t steal his smile, those sparkling eyes or his gentle spirit. At his side each and every day was my amazing, fierce, loving mother-in-law. Because of her, and her unwavering commitment to him he received stellar care
Last fall, surrounded by love, he passed away from this disease.
I don’t want another family to lose their Ken this way. I believe with all my heart that passionate people, money and gifted scientists can beat Parkinsons.
I wasn’t born a Ziegler. I’m not fast or particularly athletically gifted. But I’m strong. I’m stubborn. I’m determined. And so I’ll run. I’ll run 26.2 miles through the streets of New York. With each step I’ll see his smile in front of me, maybe shaking his head because a marathon is not a particularly sensible thing to do, but smiling nonetheless. I ask that you run with me – with your wallets – in honor of Ken. Please give what you can. And please share this widely. Together, one step at a time, we will beat Parkinsons.
Five million people worldwide are living
with Parkinson's disease - a chronic, degenerative neurological
disorder. In the United States, 60,000 new cases will be diagnosed this
year alone. There is no known cure for Parkinson's disease.
About Team Fox
Team Fox is The Michael J. Fox Foundation's
(MJFF) grassroots community fundraising program. It is made up of
thousands of people worldwide who raise funds and awareness for
Parkinson's disease research. All funds raised through Team Fox go
directly to MJFF to further its mission to accelerate the delivery of
life-changing treatments, and ultimately a cure, to people with
Parkinson's disease.
This
year, thanks to the generous support of an anonymous donor, 100% of
Team Fox proceeds will go directly to research efforts to help speed a
cure for Parkinson's.
Help us speed a cure for Parkinson's!
